Health At Gunpoint

We, in America, enjoy unprecedented access to nutritional products. We are in a golden age of nutritional science where we have effective, safe and scientifically validated nutritional products. What many people don’t realize is that access to these nutritional products is not assured and is even at risk. I have been in the natural products industry for nearly 40 years. During that time there have been at least two major attempts by the FDA to remove natural vitamins and supplements from the market place. First in 1976 and then again in the early 1990s, Congress had to intervene with legislation to protect supplements from unnecessary and over zealous regulation.

The FDA has full regulatory authority over dietary supplements since the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act in 1994. (DSHEA). Since then, the FDA has become more active in it’s oversight of foods and supplements. The FDA seems to have a certain antagonism towards supplements and have made it very difficult for supplement manufacturers for decades. There are also international pressures to limit access to supplements and to restrict potencies. Many countries have limited access to supplements and some want to see those same restrictions in the American marketplace.

Most consumers are not aware that manufacturers are prohibited from discussing the science of their products. Even when companies have credible scientific and clinical studies, companies cannot discuss the results of those studies or benefits of those products on health problems. The effect is that nutritional information is suppressed and consumers have a much more difficult challenge in getting credible information and choosing products. The FDA is of no help when it comes to promoting natural health.

In this book James Gormley traces the history of the natural health movement. He explores how big business, industry globalization and politics have affected the quality and production of food and nutritional supplements. Health at Gunpoint sheds light on the not so subtle attack on your nutritional freedoms.

About James Gormley

James Gormley is an award-winning editor and journalist with over twenty years of experience in the area of nutrition. He is the author of five other books including The User’s Guide to Brain-Boosting Supplements.